Idaho House Approves ‘Right to Try’ Measure

BOISE, Idaho (AP) — The Idaho House on Monday voted in favor of a bill to allow patients with terminal illnesses to try drugs that haven't received the Food and Drug Administration's final approval.

House Bill 481 would allow patients to seek treatments or drugs that have already passed the first phase of testing with the FDA, but haven't passed the last two phases of the approval process. Democratic Rep. Melissa Wintrow, of Boise, says the FDA drug approval process can take up to 15 years.

She says the proposal clears the way for terminally ill patients to make their own decisions regarding their treatment after every other medical treatment has been exhausted.